Method and apparatus for delivering fluid to an individual

ABSTRACT

Herein is disclosed an apparatus and method for delivering a fluid to an individual in such a manner that sloshing of the fluid is substantially suppressed, even when the fluid has been only partially consumed. The apparatus includes a reservoir for containing the fluid and a valve in fluid communication with the reservoir. A biasing mechanism exerts a force upon the reservoir, causing it to contract and force fluid through the valve, when the valve is opened. The biasing mechanism and reservoir are housed within a body, according to some embodiments.

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/909,947, filed Feb. 3, 2016, which is a National Stage Application ofPCT/US2014/049723, filed Aug. 5, 2014, which claims benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/862,312, filed Aug. 5, 2013, thecontents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present document relates generally to an apparatus and associatedmethods for delivering a fluid, such as water or a sports drink, to anindividual, and more particularly to a scheme for containing anddelivering such fluid, so as to suppress a potential sloshing action ofthe fluid as the container housing the fluid is moved about.

BACKGROUND

Hydration is an essential component of various forms of recreationalactivities ranging from running to bicycling to rollerblading, forexample. Participants in these activities oftentimes carry alongcontainers of liquids so that they can drink fluid as they becomedehydrated. Unfortunately, when carried on the person of a runner,bicycler or rollerblader, for example, the fluid within the containertends to slosh as the individual moves about during the course of hisphysical exertion. Such sloshing action consists of the fluid splashingabout the container, causing the center of mass of the combination ofthe container and the fluid within it to vary with the sloshing of thefluid—a result that is distracting to the participant.

One strategy for suppressing the aforementioned variation in the centerof mass is to increase the mass of the container, itself, so that themobile fluid mass within the container is relatively small in comparisonto the mass of the container, itself. While this strategy does suppressvariation in the center of mass of the container-fluid combination, itincreases the weight of the article that must be carried by the athlete,a result inimical to the goal of athletic performance enhancement.

Another strategy for suppressing the aforementioned variation in thecenter of mass is to contain fluid in a plurality of containers, each ofwhich is typically contained in pouches fastened to a belt worn aboutthe athlete's waist. If an individual container is sufficiently small,the athlete can consume the entirety of the fluid within the container,thereby preventing the possibility of sloshing. However, even if thesloshing is suppressed, the fluid weight is, at various times, carriedasymmetrically about the athlete's body. For example, if the fluid isinitially carried in four individual containers, spaced at even ninetydegree intervals about the athlete's waist, in the wake of a singlebottle having been consumed, the fluid weight will be asymmetricallyborne in the direction of the three remaining full bottles. This resulttends to interfere with proper performance of athletic motion.

As can be seen from the foregoing, there exists a need for a scheme bywhich fluid may be contained and delivered to an individual, so as toaddress the aforementioned issues.

SUMMARY

Against this backdrop, the present invention was developed. According toone embodiment, an apparatus for containing and releasing a fluidincludes a reservoir for containing the fluid. The reservoir has anorifice, and a volume. A valve is disposed upon the orifice, so that thefluid must flow through the valve to exit the reservoir. The valve hasan open state and a closed state. The apparatus also includes a meansfor exerting a force upon at least a portion of the reservoir. Exertionof the force upon the reservoir causes the fluid to exit the reservoirthrough the valve when the valve is in the open state. Additionally,exertion of force upon the reservoir causes the volume of the reservoirto diminish as the fluid exits the reservoir. The reservoir is within aninterior surface of a rigid body that is sized to be hand-held.

According to another embodiment, an apparatus includes a body having anouter surface, an inner surface, and a threaded neck. A chamber isdefined by the inner surface of the body and a stopper. The stopper isfree to slide along the inner surface and forms a seal with the innersurface. A biasing mechanism is situated within the body. The biasingmechanism exerts a force that causes the stopper to slide along theinner surface so as to shrink the chamber as the biasing mechanismrelaxes. A threaded top assembly mates with the threaded neck assembly.

According to another embodiment, a method of delivering a fluid to anindividual includes the act of containing a fluid within a chamberhoused within a body that has an orifice. The method also includes theact of opening a valve coupled to the orifice. Opening of the valvepermits a biasing mechanism to relax, thereby shrinking the chamber andcausing the fluid to exit the chamber through the valve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an apparatus for delivering fluid to an individual,according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 depicts an apparatus for holding fluid to be delivered to anindividual, according to another embodiment.

FIG. 3 depicts a top assembly that mates with the body depicted in FIG.2, according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 depicts another top assembly that mates with the body depicted inFIG. 2, according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 depicts a method for delivering fluid to an individual, accordingto another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts an apparatus 100 for delivery of a fluid 102 to anindividual.

The fluid 102 is contained within a chamber or reservoir 104. Inprinciple, the chamber 104 may be of any shape. The chamber or reservoir104 has a neck 106 and an orifice 108 at the distal end of the neck 106,with the orifice 108 being in fluid communication with the chamber 104.A valve 110 is coupled to the neck 106 at the orifice 108. The valve 110may be opened or closed. When the valve 110 is opened, the fluid 102 mayexit the apparatus 100 along the neck 106, to the orifice 108, andthrough the valve 110, for delivery to an individual who may drink thefluid 102, if desired. In principle, the valve 110 may be of anyvariety. According to one embodiment, the valve 110 is a check valve,such as a diaphragm check valve. According to another embodiment, thevalve 110 is a ball valve, according to yet another embodiment, thevalve 110 is a gate valve, and according to yet another embodiment, thevalve 110 is an aerosol valve.

The apparatus 100 is filled with a fluid 102, so that the volume of thefluid 102 is approximately equal to the combined volume of the chamber104 and neck 106. By virtue of the volumes of the fluid 102 and chamber104 and neck 106 combination being approximately equal, the opportunityfor sloshing of the fluid 102 is diminished, even should the apparatus100 be physically moved or disturbed, such as would be the case if theapparatus 100 was carried on the person of one who was participating inphysical exertion, such as running, bicycling, rollerblading, walking orany other physical endeavor.

A force F is exerted upon the reservoir 104. The chamber 104 isconstructed so that when the valve 110 is opened, the force F causes thechamber 104 to contract. Contraction of the chamber 104 causes the fluid102 to exit the apparatus 100 through the valve 110, as described above.Upon closing of the valve 110, the contraction of the chamber 104ceases, as does egress of the fluid 102. Accordingly, the volume of thefluid 102 remains approximately equal to the combined volumes of thereservoir 104 and neck 106, meaning that sloshing of the fluid 102 issuppressed, even as the fluid 102 is consumed.

According to some embodiments, the chamber 104 is constructed from aplurality of walls, at least one of which is mobile. The aforementionedforce F is applied to the mobile wall, so that, when the valve 110 isopen, the mobile wall moves, thereby contracting the volume of thechamber 104, and causing the fluid 102 to exit the apparatus 100 alongthe neck 106, to the orifice 108, and through the valve 110. Accordingto other embodiments, the chamber 104 is a bladder, and the force F isapplied to the bladder, causing the bladder 104 to contract andpropelling the fluid 102 to exit the apparatus 100 along the neck 106,to the orifice 108, and through the valve 110. According to someembodiments, the force F is exerted upon the chamber or reservoir 104 bya biasing mechanism, such as one or more excited springs, a pneumaticassembly, or a servo motor.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus 100 includes a body 112.The body 112 contains the reservoir 104 and the biasing mechanism ormechanisms that exert the force F upon the reservoir 104. According tosome embodiments, the body 112 is substantially rigid. Further,according to other embodiments, the body 112 is shaped and contoured soas to be conveniently handled by hand.

FIG. 2 depicts an apparatus 200 for holding fluid to be delivered to anindividual. According to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, theapparatus 200 includes a rigid body 202. The rigid body 202 has aninterior surface 204 that is generally cylindrical in shape. Accordingto some embodiments, the outer surface 206 of the body 202 is alsocylindrical. The body 202 may be sized to be conveniently held by hand,and the outer surface 206 of the body 202 may include contours to permitconvenient gripping.

The apparatus 200 includes a reservoir 208 that is defined by the innersurface 204 of the body 202 and a stopper 210 that serves as a bottomsurface of the reservoir 208. The stopper 210 forms a seal with theinner surface 204 of the body 202, so that the reservoir 208 may containa fluid. The stopper 210 is free to slide along the inner surface 204 ofthe body 202, and maintains the seal as it does so. The apparatus 200includes a threaded neck 212 that defines an orifice 214, which withfluid may be introduced into, or withdrawn from, the reservoir 208.

The apparatus 200 includes a biasing mechanism 216 composed of one ormore springs 216. When the stopper 210 is positioned toward the bottomsurface 218 of the body 202, the springs 216 are compressed. As thesprings 216 relax, they urge the stopper 210 toward the neck 212,causing the volume of the reservoir 208 to contract. In the event thatthe reservoir 208 contains fluid, the fluid is propelled by forcethrough the orifice 214.

FIG. 3 depicts a top assembly 300 that mates with the apparatus 200depicted in FIG. 2. The top assembly 300 is cut away along lines 302 and304 to depict it in partial cross section in FIG. 3. As can be seen, theassembly 300 includes a base 306 having an inner surface 308 withthreads 310. The threads 310 of the inner surface 308 of the base 306mate with the threaded neck 212 of the apparatus 200 of FIG. 2. Whenjoined together via the threads 310 and 212, fluid within the reservoir208 is free to travel through the neck 212, through the orifice 214, andinto the interior region of the base 306 of the top assembly 300.

The assembly 300 further includes a check valve that includes adiaphragm 312 and a seat 314. Flanges 316 extend from the diaphragm 312,biasing it against the seat 314. When seated, the diaphragm 312 forms aseal with the seat 314, preventing the fluid from exiting the topassembly 300. When in the presence of a pressure differential across thediaphragm 312, if the differential is of sufficient magnitude, thebiasing force of the flanges 316 is overcome, and the diaphragm iswithdrawn from the seat 314. Consequently, when the check valve isopened, fluid within the reservoir 208 is free to travel from thereservoir 208, through the neck 212 and its orifice 214, into the innerregion of the base 306, around the diaphragm 312 and through the orifice318 at the upper surface 320 of the top assembly 300. Because the fluidis free to exit the apparatus 200 (through the top assembly 300 as justdescribed) when the check valve is opened, the biasing action of thesprings 216 causes the stopper 210 to advance toward the neck 212,thereby contracting the volume of the reservoir 208, and causing fluidcontained within the reservoir to exit the apparatus 200 when the checkvalve is opened. When the check valve is closed, the fluid remainssealed within the combination of the spaces provided by reservoir 208,neck 212 and inner region of the base 306 of the top assembly 300.

According to some embodiments, a telescoping member 220 is coupled tothe stopper 210. The telescoping member 220 penetrates the bottomsurface 218 of the body 202 and terminates in a handle 222. The user ofthe apparatus 200 may grab the handle 222, and pull the stopper 210 to aretracted position, thereby compressing or exciting the springs 216 andenlarging the reservoir 208 prior to filling the reservoir 208 withfluid. When the stopper is fully retracted, a flange 224 protrudesthrough a via 226 and holds the stopper 210 in place. The stopper 210remains in the fully retracted position until the user of the apparatus200 pushes the flange 224 through the via 226, thereby freeing thestopper 210 to slide along the inner surface 204 of the body 202. Thestopper 210 will slide along the inner surface 204 toward the neck 212when the diaphragm 312 is withdrawn from the seat 314, and will remainin place when the diaphragm 312 is seated. By virtue of sliding towardthe neck 212, the stopper 210, motivated by the springs 216, contractsthe volume of the reservoir 208, causing the fluid to exit the reservoir208, and creating a condition in which, during use, the volume of thereservoir 208 is substantially equal to the volume of the fluidcontained in the reservoir, meaning that the opportunity for the fluidto slosh is diminished.

FIG. 4 depicts another top assembly 400 that mates with the apparatus200 depicted in FIG. 2. The top assembly 400 is cut away along lines 402and 404 to depict it in partial cross section in FIG. 4. As can be seen,the assembly 400 includes a base 406 having an inner surface 408 withthreads 410. The threads 410 of the inner surface 408 of the base 406mate with the threaded neck 212 of the apparatus 200 of FIG. 2. Whenjoined together via the threads 410 and 212, fluid within the reservoir208 is free to travel through the neck 212, through the orifice 214, andinto the interior region of the base 406 of the top assembly 400.

The assembly 400 further includes a valve that includes a valve body 412and a seat 414. Springs 416 bias the valve body 412 toward the seat 414to keep it closed (although the valve is depicted in an opened positionin FIG. 4). When seated, the valve body 412 forms a seal with the seat414, preventing the fluid from exiting the top assembly 400. When thehead 418 of the assembly 400 is depressed (as it is in FIG. 4), thebiasing force of the springs 416 is overcome, and the valve body 412 isforced away from the seat 414. Consequently, when the valve is opened,fluid within the reservoir 208 is free to travel from the reservoir 208,through the neck 212 and its orifice 214, into the inner region of thebase 406, around the valve body 412 and through the orifice 420 on thehead 418 of the top assembly 400. Because the fluid is free to exit theapparatus 200 (through the top assembly 400 as just described) when thevalve is opened, the biasing action of the springs 216 causes thestopper 210 to advance toward the neck 212, thereby contracting thevolume of the reservoir 208, and causing fluid contained within thereservoir 208 to exit the apparatus 200 when the valve is opened. Whenthe valve is closed, the fluid remains sealed within the combination ofthe spaces provided by reservoir 208, neck 212 and inner region of thebase 406 of the top assembly 400.

FIG. 5 depicts a method for delivering fluid to an individual, accordingto another embodiment. The method of FIG. 5 begins by containing thefluid within a chamber that has an orifice, as is shown in operation500. In operation 502, the chamber, itself, it contained within a body,which, according to some embodiments, may be a substantially rigid body.In operation 504, a biasing mechanism, such as one or more springs, apneumatic arrangement, a motor, one or more elastic bands, to name a fewwithout limitation, is also contained within the rigid body. The biasingmechanism exerts a force upon the chamber housing the fluid, and as thebiasing mechanism is permitted to relax, it causes the chamber tocontract, thereby causing the volume of the chamber to contract as thevolume of the fluid held within the chamber is diminished. To deliverthe fluid to the individual, a valve in fluid communication with theorifice is opened, as shown in operation 506. By opening the valve, thebiasing mechanism is permitted to relax, causing the fluid to exit thechamber, as just described.

The various embodiments described above are provided by way ofillustration only and should not be construed to limit the invention.Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modificationsand changes that may be made to the present invention without followingthe example embodiments and applications illustrated and describedherein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of thepresent invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

1. An apparatus for containing and releasing a fluid, the apparatuscomprising: a reservoir for containing the fluid, the reservoirincluding a bladder, wherein the reservoir has an orifice, and whereinthe reservoir has a volume; a valve in fluid communication with theorifice, so that the fluid must flow through the valve to exit thereservoir, wherein the valve has an open state and a closed state; amovable wall configured to exert a force upon at least a portion of thereservoir, wherein the exertion of the force upon the reservoir causesthe fluid to exit the reservoir through the valve when the valve is inthe open state, and wherein the exertion of the force upon the reservoircauses the bladder to contract as the fluid exits the reservoir; andwherein the reservoir is within an interior surface of a rigid body thatis sized to be hand-held. 2-6. (canceled)
 7. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the valve is biased to the closed state.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 7, wherein the valve transitions to the open state from the closedstate upon experiencing a pressure differential across the valve.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 8, wherein the valve comprises a diaphragm and aseat, and wherein the diaphragm is biased toward the seat and seals thevalve when in the closed state.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, whereinthe diaphragm is secured so that a pressure differential across thediaphragm causes the diaphragm to withdraw from the seat, therebytransitioning the valve from the closed state to the open state.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve is a check valve.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a threaded top assembly:wherein the rigid body includes a threaded neck that mates with thethreaded top assembly. 13-20. (canceled)